Alice In Wonderland in G#

Alice In Wonderland in G#

Alice In Wonderland in G#: a jazz waltz that transforms the Disney source material into flowing 3/4 bebop. Lydian opens up the major sections; Bebop Major and Dorian navigate the ii-V passages with swing feel. Changes: A#m7 – D#7 – G#Maj7 – C#Maj7 – Gm7b5 – C7 – Fm7 – B7 – Cm7 – A#7 – F – F7 – Dm7b5 – G7b9 – E7.

Alice In Wonderland in G#

G# major (or Ab) lives at fret 4 on the low E string. All chords require barre technique, making it less common in guitar-centric songwriting but standard in piano-driven pop. Guitarists often use a capo to access friendlier shapes. G# is a intermediate-advanced-level key on guitar because the open G string is a half step below the root, creating dissonance — avoid letting it ring. Expect to rely on barre chords throughout, which builds hand strength and unlocks the entire fretboard.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to G (ascending tritone), G to C (ascending perfect fourth), C to F (ascending perfect fourth), F to B (ascending tritone), B to C (ascending half step), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to F (descending perfect fourth), F to F (ascending unison), F to D (descending minor third), D to G (ascending perfect fourth), G to E (descending minor third). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The root motion by larger intervals (fourths and fifths) gives each chord change a strong, decisive character. When the progression loops, the bass returns from E to A# by tritone.

Scales for Improvisation

G# major pentatonic works because every note is either a chord tone or a safe passing tone — there are no avoid notes. For soloing, this means you can play freely without clashing. Over dominant seventh chords, G# Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.